Time and Destiny

"I'm not paying for a mural that mocks everything I've built."

His voice was sharp and clean like a scalpel. Controlled. Cold. And utterly infuriating.

Avery dropped her brush, letting it clatter to the floor. The sound echoed in the too-perfect lobby like a scream no one dared to acknowledge.

"Maybe if what you built wasn't so hollow," she replied, tilting her chin just enough to show she wasn't intimidated. "You wouldn't be so bothered by some paint."

Chase Turner. The Machine. The man who owned half of Manhattan, the world's leading anti-aging tech empire, and apparently, a sense of humor so thin it snapped under the weight of truth. He stood there in his tailored black suit like he belonged to a different species. Impeccable. Untouchable. Immortal at least, that was the goal, wasn't it?

He stared at the mural. Her mural. Shadowy faceless men in suits tearing apart golden clocks with manicured hands. Time bleeding out in thick streaks of red and gold.

"I want you out of this building in ten minutes," he said, voice like the tick of a clock about to strike midnight.

Avery's heart pounded in her chest, but she forced a laugh. "Firing the help, huh? Classy."

He didn't flinch. Just turned and walked away, like she was already erased from his day.

Whatever.

She scooped up her supplies, heart still racing with adrenaline. She didn't regret the mural. Not for a second. She'd painted the truth, and if it rattled the king in his tower, good. Someone needed to.

But just as the elevator doors began to slide open behind him-

Everything blinked.

Not like the power went out. Not like the lights flickered.

No. Time blinked. Like someone hit a reset button on the world.

Avery's knees went weak. Her hands pressed to the wall. The mural-

Gone.

Her jaw dropped. The wall was blank. Pristine.

Like she hadn't painted a damn thing.

Like she hadn't been there at all.

"Cole!" a voice barked from behind her.

She turned sharply. Same room. Same man. Same goddamn suit.

"What the hell are you doing?" Chase's eyes narrowed, and this time, confusion mixed with the usual condescension. "Why are you just standing there? Get to work."

She blinked.

No. No way.